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SF 907 
.C33 

Copy l VETEKlNABf SCIENCE, 

I IMPORTANT 

TO THE 

Physician, the Student, and the Gentleman of Philadelphia; 

GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE 
ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE OF LONDON, 

AND 

A SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENT IN THIS CITY; 

OF 

A New Veterinary Forge, and Horse Infirmary, 

FOR INSTRUCTING 

CITY AND COUNTRY SMITHS 
In that Important Branch of Domestic Science called 

if hub M©aas?(a & rip's 

A COMPARISON OF THE TWO SYSTEMS 

BETWEEN 

0im anii #or^e. 

ALSO, 

COMPARATIVE SHOEING EXPLAINED, 

DESCRIPTIVE OF 

A PLAN FOR DISSEMINATING THIS NECESSARY AND USEFUL 

BRANCH OF SCIENCE THROUGHOUT THE 

UNITED STATES. 

By J. CARVER, Veterinary rgeon, 
T. S, Manning-, Prin i 



INTRODUCTION. 

IT may not be improper, while treating on the manage- 
ment of the feet, and the shoeing art generally, concerning 
which public curiosity has been much raised, that a few ne- 
cessary and useful hints should be given respecting smiths. 
At the same time I cannot help indulging a bope that the 
argument I sbal'l advance on this subject, may operate so as 
to produce stronger conviction m the public mind of the 
necessity of viewing this branch of domestic science in some- 
what a different point of view, than has hitherto been cus- 
tomary; and that although much may be effected to prevent 
contraction in young horses, there are many, say seven out 
of every ten, which have already been used in the city, and 
which the custom of shoeing, with whatever skill and care 
it may be executed, or upon whatever principle it may be 
practised, is sure, sooner or later, to bring along with it some 
evil. I therefore do not conceive it utterly inapplicable to 
the present subject, if I say a few words in favour of those 
smiths, who exercise the trade of shoeing.' Few men, I be- 
lieve has more to do with this class of mechanics than my worthy 
preceptor Mr. Coleman, and as no one vindicates their cause 
more justhj or more readily than he does, I do it more cheerfully 
myself, on account of having unequivocally laid to their charge, 
one offence more than usually appears against them in their 
criminal calendar, already sufficiently heavy. 

But justice with him obliges me to say, that I know not 
any mechanics, that are subject to'more indiscrimate censure 
and abuse, and who are therefore on that account, more to 
be pitied, than those who follow the occupation of shoeing. 
For a slight irregularity or blunder which in a lock smith, 
or jobbing smith, would be considered a mere venal fault, 
is in the case of the shoeing smith, converted into a crime of 
the deepest dye. On some account, indeed, it is natural it 






4 



should b? so, for a sober half hour will often remedy the 
mischie by either of the former artificers; whereas days 
and weeks, nay months, may be required to counteract the 
evil consenuences of an unskilful, or careless stroke of the 
hammer ofthe latter. Or it may happen, that the evil pro- 
duced will admit of no remedy, and that the horse shall ci- 
ther die of a lock jaw, or become incurably lame. 

Now, though I am' far from meaning to palliate the fault 
of negligence, and far less the crime of drunkenness, yet, it 
ought to be recollected, that the shoeing smith lias an intri- 
cate and complicated part of a valuable machine, (the internal 
mechanism of which, he is but little acquainted with), to keep 
in order; and that accidents are inseparable from the practice 
of his, as well as every other mechanical art. Instead thereof 
of vilifying and abusing a sober industrious smith, when such 
a misfortune occurs, as laming a horse in shoeing, let it be 
the endeavour of the proprietor, to convince that man, that 
what has happened, has occurred from wounding the sensible 
Lamii;, , and not pricking the quick as they call it. For this, 
by alarming him more seriously on the score of the probable 
consequence of future negligence, will have the effect of in- 
creasing his caution; and I am perfectly satisfied, that if 
it were once generally understood by practical smiths, that 
the stale excuse of binding or pinching the foot, would no 
longer avail them, this conviction alone, would produce great- 
er circumspection on their part; and fewer horses would be 
lamed, from a hasty or careless mode of driving the nails; 
but so long as there exists such a strong feeling of hostility 
in the public mind against these people as a body, it must not 
only be productive of great injustice towards, and much in- 
discriminate abuse of, individuals, but must, inevitably per- 
petuate the evils so commonly laid to their charge; and thus 
utterly preclude all hopes of amendment, in their morals and 
conduct. 

For, how often have I witnessed a stern austere employer, 
accost a humble, sober, industrious smith, just about to enter 
upon his labour in such a way, as if he conceived the latter 
was intent upon wilfully injuring, or laming a horse. Now, 



is this the way, let me ask, to encourage the industrious me- 
chanic, or to raise him from that degraded condition, which 
the arbitrariness of custom, and the effect of vulgar preju- 
dice, have reduced him to? or rather, would not a more humane 
and enlightened policy suggest a mode of treatment diametri- 
cally opposite to this? 

Let shoeing smiths that .are sober and good workmen be 
duly encouraged, and like other mechanics let them be enabled, 
by the exercise of their trade, to earn as much as jobbing 
smiths, and the other lower kind of artists are enabled to do; 
and we soon shall see a different race of men step forward, 
to wipe away the odium, which their craft has been indiscri- 
minately exposed to for ages. For may we not see daily in- 
stances of people giving preference to a jobbing Smith, or a 
lock smith, in fact, to the vilest and most worthless mechanic, 
especially if he has the character of being clever, for the em- 
ployment of one half hour such a sum as they would pay 
grudgingly to a shoeing smith, for five or six hours hard la- 
bour. In this respect, indeed there is an absurdity in the pub- 
lic mind, not easily to be accounted for. Few are so ignorant, 
as not to be fully sensible and ready to admit, that the shoe- 
ing smith has a very valuable piece of mechanism entrusted to 
his care, which he is expected to keep in order, whilst he is 
refused at the same time, the greatest of all human incentives 
to industry, & proper reward for his labour. 

I throw out these hints, the more freely and readily, be- 
cause I have no interest in the advice contained in them, 
knowing that my friends and the public in general must see the 
motive by which I am still actuated in thus giving away in a 
manner the secrets, as well as the profits of my profession. 
If, however, I can blend a public good with my own interest, 
I still reserve a sufficiency for my own comforts and wants. 
I certainly deserve well of my country, and of those for whom 
my long labours have been so faithfully exerted, to make 
them see their own interests in adopting a more humane and 
political, as well as an economical treatment towards those 
honest and faithful slaves to their services, (the horse,) whose 
aid and efforts are exerted for our wants ; and who is both our 






slave and our support; who give profit to the poor and plea- 
sure to the rich ; in health forwards our concerns, and in sick- 
ness lends a willing assistance for our recovery. In a word, 
nature has endowed km with that, perception, which yields 
him the knowledge of every service we can and ought in gra- 
titude to render him/ If, therefore, such be the qualities of so 
noble a creature, surely he who has devoted his life and ta- 
lents to the service and study of his infirmities, has surely 
some claim to the patronage and protection of his country. 

How ever, like many other evils in society, it is a fact, 
much easier felt and perceived than remedied,- nevertheless I 
am not without hopes, that what I have here loosely suggest- 
ed, may be acted upon by the humane and enlightened, in such 
a way as to be productive of some partial good, if not to my- 
self, at least to the community. 

At the same time it is equally clear to me, that, in order 
to lessen these enormous evils, of stable mismanagement, shoe- 
ing, &c. we have not by any means so much to learn, as to 
unlearn. 

For, the lessons of instinct are plain and simple. To ena- 
ble us to understand these no learning is necessary to be ob- 
tained; in order to decypher them no oil need be expended; 
they are written in broad and legible characters, in the great 
book of nature, by the finger of the Deity. 

But the grand difficulty in the way of improvement, is 
that thick mist of prejudice, which obscures the mental op- 
tics, and prevents most people from discerning, not only what 
is merciful and just, but even that which is economical and 
politic. 

If, however, we could but once be prevailed upon to shake 
off the trammels of custom, and to forsake the beaten track 
of fashion, and to tread in the path of nature and simplicity, 
not only would the great cause of humanity be effectually 
served by the change, but ere any great length of time could 
elapse, men would begin to discover, that their own interests 
are now intimately connected with mercy, in the treatment of 
these animals, than at the first blush would seem to be the 
case. But as long as people of higher classes shall continue to 






advocate indirectly the cause of folly and cruelty, by sticking 
for the present absurd system of treating and shoeing horses, 
the prospect of amendment seems indeed disant, and any ra- 
tional hope or expectation of seeing the thing accomplished, 
is utterly hopeless. 

Thus how often may one person of the above description 
be heard to say, I cannot bear to ride a horse with a rough 
coat, and therefore I will not give up my plan of clothing, nor 
that of maintaining a comfortable warmth in my stables; there- 
fore be sure John to shut too the left windows — and when it 
snows, or blows hard, stop the crevices and bottoms of the 
stable doors with dung, and the fumes arising from that litter 
and urine will be sure to keep the horses warm. 

A second — I detest the look of a large belly, and accord- 
ingly I will stint my horse (even in summer) to less than one 
half the quantity of water he would naturally be inclined to 
take. 

A third — I think my horse don't carry a good tail; besides, 
it is too long to look handsome; I will therefore get it nick'd, 
dock'd, and bobb'd. 

A fourth— I think my horse's hoofs look much better when 
glossy than dull, and for this reason I will order the smith to 
rasp them, and my groom to oil them daily. 

A fifth — My horse seems to wink his eyes very much. I 
am afraid he is going to get the lock-jaw; people tell me he 
has got the hooks — I will therefore send him to the black- 
smith, who knows how to cut them out. 

A sixth — I think my horse has not got a good coat; it looks 
rough; besides, it stands on end, and he looks poor. I will 
therefore order him to be bled in the mouth, three or four 
cpi arts, and when he has suck'd the greatest part of this down, 
lie will thrive and look well. People tell me that blood is a 
good physic, and will make the horse thrive. 

A seventh — My horse's ears are rough, long and shaggy ; 
besides, they stand too wide; therefore I will not only order 
them to be trimm'd out, but the greater part of them to be 
cutofF!!! 

Here is both wisdom and science combined. 



■ 



8 

Whilst, I say, in order to justify the absurdities of fa- 
shion, We hear people of a superior class have recourse to 
such arguments, I will not use the term reason, for that 
would look like a desire to dignify nonsense. What rational 
hope can be indulged respecting a change of system, in the 
lower orders, who, it is well known, take the tone from their 
superiors? 

In short, until the nominally great, shall prove themselves 
to be really so, by rising above such prejudices, and instead 
of falling in with, and palliating such monstrous infringe- 
ments of the rules of common sense, and such gross viola- 
tions of the laws of humanity, as have been glanced at, shall 
determine to make good sense and benevolence fashionable, 
the great mass of absurdity of which our stable system con- 
sists, will never be materially lessened. 

For, until this desirable change be effected, it can require 
no spirit of prophecy to be able to predict, that divines may 
preach, and moralists inveigh, that philosophers may disco- 
ver, and legislators enact, but all in vain ; for neither the 
sermons of a Blair, nor the maxims of a Paley, nor the lec- 
tures of a Davy or a Coleman, nor solemn acts of parliament 
or congress will avail, in remedying these evils. 

If, however, such a happy era should ever arrive, the bu- 
siness might be said to be accomplished, and humanity will 
have cause to rejoice. 

As respects myself, let my sins be what they may in this 
world, I shall die in the happy consolation, that when ar- 
raigned before the supreme court of the other world, at least 
no four-legged gentleman will ever appear against me. 

J. CARVER, ^ S. 



To the Honourable Judge Peters, Dr. Mease^ 
General Cadwallader, Roberts Vaucc, Reuben 
Hams*, Jeremiah Warder, Wm. Sansom, John 
Tomlinson, and Dr. Shaw. 

GE3VT1EME]V> 

DEEMING you so justly entitled to the first tender 
of an Essay of this sort* from the station many of you hold 
in public life, and the estimation which all your private 
characters bear, that whatever presumption there may ap^ 
pear to be, in making it without permission, I flatter myself 
that I cannot easily be censured for the apparent improprie- 
ty of this address. 

I cannot forbear offering some remarks respecting the Ve- 
terinary Profession, independent of the subject of the new Ve- 
terinary Forges, I aninow establishing in this city, with a vie\v 
-of laying the foundation stone, for ameliorating the Diseases 
of Quadrupeds in general, and in order to give encourage- 
ment to those who may still feel a want of confidence in not 
knowing its having assumed the form of a science, and to the 
public generally, who have hitherto withheld their support, as 
if it were a derogatory and hopeless profession. There is no 
art, it may be maintained, so perplexed and difficult, that by 
human industry and research, steadily and properly exerted, 
cannot be rendered more clear and practicable; to accomplish 
this, however, time must be allowed. Having now for some 
months past commenced practice, and having performed seve- 
ral successful cures in an epidemic disease, which made its ap- 
pearance in this city during last winter; the resutt of those 
inquiries being now before you, the progress no doubt will be 
more rapid, and its service to the horse and to mankind will, 
assuredly be felt. 

Some disappointment has without doubt arisen, from un- 
founded expectations of relief in desperate and hopeless cases, 
where human art could not avail; and some, not finding their 
interest served in this respect, have become rancorous ene- 
mies to the establishment of the New Forges as well as the 
profession. «« The Fruit has been sought before the Blossom 






10 

was unfolded." Still there can be no doubt, that if human 
medicine and surgery have been aided by public establish- 
ments, the vertininary art must admit of improvement by the 
same means ; and that cloud of imbecility that has so long ob- 
scured and stigmatised the profession in this country now pro- 
mises gradually to be dispelled, and no doubt that in a few 
years, there will not be a city, a town, or a country village in 
the United States, but will have to boast a practitioner, 
whose abilities may do honour to a great national institution ; 
and if any exertions on my part, as a fellow citizen should 
have been devoted to obtain this useful and desirable end, I 
feel already the pleasing consolation that I shall die happy* 
in having done my duty. 

I cannot however conclude without the satisfaction of re- 
cording the many marks of friendship and assistance shown 
to me by Jeremiah Warder, Reuben Haines, the late Dr. 
Rush, General Cadwallader, Judge P&ers and others, on the 
entrance of my professional studies at my departure for the 
Veterinary College. The services of these friends, with plea- 
sure I acknowledge, have been most gratifying to me. 

I cannot at the same time, fail to mention the friendly as- 
sistance of Messrs. G. Morrison, Wurts, and Ely of Boston, 
and others of this city, whose friendly aid while at college, 
and at a period, when it was most wanted and felt. And not 
less, also, do I feel indebted to the friendship of Doctors 
Chapman and Hewson, for their professional and friendly 
support and cheerful compliance in attending the examina- 
tion of the death of Mr. Chancellor's horses. Not forgetting 
my worthy and particular friend Mr. C.Watson, since my re- 
turn to the city. 

I have long foreseen, gentlemen, the innumerable difficul- 
ties which still accumulate before me ; I feel myself however 
sufficiently bold to encounter them, and although the task 
which my present situation imposes on me is great, no exer- 
tions on my part shall be wanting. Still, to exert every ability 
to fulfil it, and if the public which now honour me with its 
confidence, shall continue to encourage this well-meant en- 
deavour to alleviate the sufferings of the brute creation, I 



Jl 

shall also make every exertion to correspond with their can- 
dour, by rendering myself useful in my station. 

Some of you, gentlemen, are proprietors of a very conside- 
rable stock of cattle,- and the many different maladies and dis- 
orders, to which the whole species are particularly exposed 
and subject, and which consequently, in gratitude require our 
friendly aid and assistance; and as this branch of domestic 
science called the Veterinary Art, which I have now the honour 
to profess among you, has stood so preeminently useful in your 
opinions, I flatter myself that the following sheets will not be 
an unacceptable token of respect. All I mean by this attempt, 
is to endeavour to be useful : 

I only desire Mr. Pope's rules may be observed^ 

" In every work regard the writer's end, 
Ifot free from fault, nor yet too vain to mend." 

And should this imperfect performance, for want of a bet- 
ter, prove commendable to society, by these few hints which 
I have drawn together, I shall with pleasing satisfaction re- 
flect, that I have endeavoured to contribute my mite towards 
the benefit of mankind, as well as the brute creation. 

I have the honour to be, 

Gentlemen, your respectful 
And obedient servant, 

J. CARVER, 

Philada.f May, 1817. 



13K. CARTER'S 

Repository, Veterinary Forge, 



AND 



HICDMSE QSHFUSS&&R7 



9 



FOR THE 



Improvement of the Shoeing Jh% 

ON PK0FESS0K COLEMAN^ SYSTEM. 



As now adopted at the different Veterinary Colleges of England, Ire- 
land, Scotland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Russia, and British 
India. 



BR. CARVER, 

Veterinary Surgeon and Professor of Animal Medicine, 

From the Royal Veterinary College, London, 

Respectfully informs his friends and the subscribers to 
this establishment, that he has opened a Repository, new Ve- 
terinary Forge, and Horse Infirmary, at John W. Greggor's, 
in Zane, between Seventh and Eighth street, formerly the old 
Spread Eagle, occupied by Mr. J, Tomlinson, where personal 
attendance will be given to see the same properly conducted 
on scientific principles. 

Dr. Carver having long foreseen the want of such an es- 
tablishment, with a view of obviating the many difficulties to 
which gentlemen are often subject, of keeping their horses 
sound in their feet, has, in conjunction with this branch of the 
veterinary art, established a ten stall range of new Ventilated 
StaMes, on the College plan, for saddle horses, where gentle- 



13 



men for the annual subscription of Five Dollars per week, will 
have their horses shod on the above system ; veterinary medi- 
cal treatment, keep, exercise, and many other advantages of 
advice in a professional way for that sum, and where gentle- 
men may at all times apply with confidence, and depend on 
dealing with a man of honour and integrity. 

The grand object of establishing these forges are not only 
with a view of curing and preventing, canker, corns, thrushes, 
and contraction, four of the most formidable diseases to which 
the foot of the horse is subject, and proves the entire destruc- 
tion of many thousand horses in this city; but with the view 
of introducing and disseminating the principles and practice 
of the shoeing art, together with the intention of opening a 
school of instruction, to which city and country smiths, are in- 
vited to attend, and receive private lectures on the anatomy, 
economy, and functions of the foot of the living horse, by 
which means this useful and domestic science may gradually 
become dispersed throughout the union. Medical students 
are also invited to render themselves useful in their neigh- 
bourhoods where they may reside, by receiving instruction in 
the anatomy and physiology of the horse, by learning how to 
perform operations and administering medicine, where no re- 
gular, or scientific aid can be procured. Sensible of the ad- 
vantages which may be made to result by obtaining a know- 
ledge of comparative anatomy in this way, the young student 
may, without disparagement to his profession, be rendering a 
useful peice of service to himself and his country,- we may 
then hope to see that the time is at length arrived, when these 
things will be in a fair way of reformation altogether, and 
that cloud of imbecility which has so long obscured and stig- 
matized the practice of this profession, will gradually be dis- 
pelled, and it must be the anxious hope of every liberal 
minded and good man, that in a few years there may not be 
a city, town, or country village in the United States, but will 
have to boast a practitioner, whose abilities may do honour 
to a great national institution. Divers other things might also 
be noticed to illustrate the methodus medendi." 






14 

Dr. Carver will receive patients into his infirmary at the 
usual charge of four dollars per week, with a moderate but 
economical charge for medical treatment; but in extraordinary 
bad cases where surgical operations may be deemed necessary 
a further charge will of course not be thought extravagant. 



CITIES, 
COUNTRY TOWNS AND VILLAGES, 

AND 

PROPRIETORS 
Mail and Stage Coach Establishments, 

Will find it an object of great commercial, as well as domes- 
tic importance to their own interests in obtaining smiths, and 
inviting them to receive instruction and to establish themselves 
on their different lines. In a political point of view, also this es- 
tablishment may become of great importance which must be suf- 
ficiently manifest; so fully of late, was the utility of it estima- 
ted by the government of England, Ireland, and Scotland, in 
their military and mail department, that an annual grant of 
15,000Z. has been voted for the support of the veterinary col- 
lege, and for the education of pupils for the improvement of 
the shoeing art. 

Proprietors of such establishments will therefore find it 
their interest to consult Dr. Carver, or the following gentle- 
men. 

Happily for the profession itself, and much more happily 

for the community at large, that similar advantages are be- 
ginning to make some progress by the aforesaid establishment, 
and it is to be hoped that the time is not far distant, when it 
will be further honoured by a legislative contribution, under 
which predictive ray of reformation, part of the present ge- 



15 

Deration, may probably not only derive future advantage* but 
live to see the former system rescued from ignorance and bar- 
barity, by which it has long been disgraced in this part of the 
world. The following gentlemen, therefore seeing the igno- 
rance and incompetency of farriers and others, who have hith- 
erto practised on the diseases of horses in this city, (and to 
remedy this, and meet the evil, inthe most effectual manner) 
have cheerfully stepped forward, to sanction and support it. 

The Medical Patrons are 

DR. CHAPMAN, Professor of Anatomy, M. M. 
DR. HEWSON, Professor of Comparative Anatomy. 

The Patrons friendly to Dr. Carver's New Establishment, are 

Reuben Haines, Jeremiah Warder, 

Roberts Vaux, William Sansom, 

John Tomlinson, Dr. Mease, 

M. Wurts, W. Wurts, 

Mr. Morrison, Charles Watson, 

Condy Raguet, Mr. Schlatter, 

Wilson Hunt, Jno. Vaughan 

Alexander Henry, 
To whom proprietors of the above mentioned establish- 
ments, city or country smiths may apply for an introduction to 
Dr. Carver, and who on receiving the same, shall be supplied 
with models of all the patent college Shoes, Hammers, Coun- 
tersink Nails, Punches, Fullers, Instruments, and Drawing 
Knives, &c. The Butteris must be abolished for the use of 
the Drawing Knife, and smiths being instructed in the use 
of that instrument, by Dr. Carver, will be entitled to shoe 
on the above principle, for no less than $1 50 a set. Every 
gentleman travelling to different parts of the United States, 
and desirous of giving encouragement to the establishment for 
disseminating this useful and necessary branch of domestic 
science, will be entitled to a set of the model patent shoes, and 
on bringing his horse or horses, to the forge for examination 
to Dr. Carver, he will be instructed in their use and applica- 
tion. 



16 

Country smiths, respectable young men desirous of emula- 
ting in this branch of the veterinary art, as well as to learn 
the surgical, operative parts of the profession will do well to 
apply before the ensuing winter. And every person being so 
instructed, and found qualified, will receice a proper certificate 
signed by the medical patrons, gentlemen and professor of the 
aforesaid establishments as being better qualified to practice 
with advantage to themselves and to the public. 

Note. — Dr. Carver being a member of the London Veterinary Medical 
Society, and having been instructed in the art of compounding veterinary 
medicine at the college pharmacopoeia, has also established a small labora- 
tory at his own house, where gentlemen, travelling to the different parts of 
the United States, may be supplied with what medicines they may want. 
City and country druggists desirous of retailing an arrangement of the 
above ready prepared medicines, may be supplied also. Each article con- 
taining a regular practical treatise on the complaint intended to be remov- 
ed. 



SUBJECTS 

WHICH WILL BE TAUGHT AND DEMONSTRATED 

TO EVERY SMITH, 

ON RECEIVING INSTRUCTION, 

AT THE NEW VETEMINJIBY FORGE. 

1. AN introductory Lecture giving a general view of the 
nature of the Shoeing Art. 

£. The views commonly entertained of the Shoeing Art, and 
causes of its defects by various characters, supposed to have 
a knowledge of these things. 

S. Reasonings founded on the natural foot, but are irreve- 
lent on the foot being shod. 

4. Various principles of shoeing, as they are called, exam- 
ined. Good and bad shoeing pointed out. 

5. One principle only— to follow nature as near as we can, 
that defined and how to be obtained. 



17 

6. Fitting shoes, and (Living nails, discretion; ! circum- 
stances only, pointed out. 

7. The difference of the foot after shoeing observed, with a 
series of nine years experiments for accurately ascertaining 
the effects of the shoe after being shoo, by B. Clark, F. L. S. 

and V. S. 

8. A variety of different experiments on the foot of the living 
horse, explained, during my residence at the college. 

9. A description of the foot and hoof of the horse, in which 
their true nature is endeavoured to be established, not merely 
as a defence for the foot, but as a non-resisting machinery for 
the exertions of the animal and repose of the weight, pointed 
out and explained. 

10. Of the heels, apparent offices of the heels as elastic 
beds for the weight of ihe animal, explained and pointed out. 

11. The extraordinary state of the foal's foot, which does 
not obtain its full developement until the fifth year, explained 

and pointed out. 

12. How the weight is received and distributed over the ba- 
sis of the foot, exhibited, explained and pointed out. 

13. Wall of the foot described; its curious termination in 
the centre of the foot, explained and pointed out by dissection. 
The bars as elastic processes also denned. 

14. Of the frog, how a space in the foot is provided for it 
by nature, as the elastic key-stone of the foot, demonstrated 
by dissection. Also the cleft of the frog and the frog-stay de- 
scribed. 

15. Cushion of the frog and its uses described and demon- 
strated by dissection. 

16. An extraordinary hitherto undescribed part the cono- 
ary frog band, pointed out by dissection. 

17. The frog-stay described by dissection; the rupture of 
that organ described and pointed out as the real cause of run- 
ning thrush, by B. Clark, V. S. 

18. The frog shown to possess the power of maintaining 
its own figure; and the curious doctrine of shoeing smiths in 
this respect, pointed out. 



IS 

19. Their rcaaons for cutting the frog explained, and the 
remarkable interruption to the growth of it from that cause, 
pointed out. 

20. How ascertained; its causes suggested, and the cutting 
of it unnecessary, nearly in all cases. The frequent cause of 
ragged frogs pointed out for the above cause. The natural 
full grown frog, never ragged if never cut, pointed out. 

21. The singular effect of shoeing on the frog described, 
with its natural exfoliations considered and explained. 

22. The different degrees of pressure the frog ought to re- 
ceive when in health, and when in a state of disease, pointed out. 

23. The sole, its singular mechanism exhibited by dissection. 

24. Thickens by shoeing, and the wall also retarded and 
disturbed in its growth by shoeing, explained. 

25. The horny and sensible lamina described by dissection. 
500 of the former surrounding the anterior surface of the 
wall, with 500 of the latter plates of horn surrounding' the 
posterior surface of the coffin bone, and coming in contact 
with each other, is shown to support the whole weight of the 
animal, proved by experiments at the Veterinary College. 

26. The bearings of the natural hoof on the ground— its 
natural exfoliations, &c. pointed out— its natural form at five 
years old, as broad from heel to heel as from heel to toe, also 
explained— never of an oblong form in a state of nature if 
never shod. 

27. On standing in the stable— how it proves the entire de- 
struction of the foot for want of proper stable treatment and 
management. 

28. On shoeing— on neat shoeing— on levelling the toe— on 
expanding of feet — how to be obtained ; together with a closer 
examination of the nature of these things pointed out and ex- 
plained—how and why the shoeing art has for so many ages 
been involved in a cloud of darkness.* With conclusions how 
this branch of the veterinary art may be drawn from contempt 
to respectability. 

Xote. The great evils produced by cutting, its causes and its remedies, 
together with a number of experiments on different horses, tried at the 
Veterinary College, explained and pointed out. 



Dr. Carver deeming it of great importance to rectify and 
determine the weight of the shoe, recommends the following 
to the notice of the public. 

It is a matter of astonishment to see some horses with shoes 
weighing each 3, 4, and 5 lbs. making together a burden of 
12, 16 and 20 lbs. of iron attached to their four feet. It must 
be obvious to common sense, that such an additional weight 
fixed to the extremities of the leg, must be productive of some 
inconvenience or other, by compelling the muscles and liga- 
ments to greater exertion than necessary, beside other evil 
consequences, as the weight forcing out the nails, and thereby 
spoiling the texture of the crust, &c. Why then, we may ask, 
do not the shoeing smiths, who are daily impressed of these 
evils, and who are themselves the very authors of them, apply 
themselves to the correction of their own errors? The answer, 
I fear, is obvious, because he who is uneducated, and destitute 
of sound principles in his art, cannot turn to real profit the 
experience he has acquired, nor abandon the force of preju- 
dice and custom in which he has so long journeyed ; but sa- 
tisfies himself to imitate and repeat only whatever he has seen 
or heard by others. 

The weight of the shoes proposed by Dr. C. are as follow : 

1. For wagon, cart or dray horses, from 2 lbs. to 2 lbs. 12 ozs. 

2. For small horses of this kind, from 1 lb. to 2 lbs. 

3. For largest size coach horses, from 1 lb. to 1 lb. 12 ozs. 

4. The small size do. do. from 14 ozs. to 1 lb. 4 ozs. 

5. For large saddle horses, from 1 lb. to 1 lb. 4 ozs. 

6. For small size do. from 12 ozs. to 1 lb. 
7- For race horses, from 3 to 5 ozs. 

Dr. Carver's reasons for reducing the weight of shoes as 
above stated are as follow : 

If a horse can be made to travel as safe, find as long with 
a light shoe of only a few ounces, why should pounds be ad- 
ded ? By reducing the superfluous breadth of shoes, their thick- 
ness may be increased without making any addition to their 
weight. 

I am, however, of the following opinion: that from the race 
horse to the cart horse, the same system of shoeing should be 



■ 



&0 

observed. The size, thickness, and weight of them only, should 
differ. The shoe of a race horse must, of course, be lighter 
than that of a saddle horse; a saddle horse lighter than that 
of a coach or bat horse, and these last, more so than that of 
a cart, wagon or artillery horse. Shoes have until lately in 
almost every country been made too heavy; but if the iron be 
good, and well hammer-hardened, until cold — a pound of iron 
worked in this way may be converted into half a pound of 
steel, and still answer all the purposes intended. 



REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS 

ON 

THE TRUE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE 

OF THE 

SHOEING ART. 

Many of my friends, I perceive, hold out hopes that by 
the establishment of these forges a more politic system in 
shoeing of horses is at last beginning to prevail, and though 
a regular treatise cannot, at present, be written to explain 
every tiling necessary on the subject, it is sufficient to say 
that Mr. Coleman's System will be laid down and taught in 
preference to any other; and it would be improper in me to 
close this subject, without informing my readers, that the use 
of the thin heel'd shoe lately introduced by Mr. James will 
for the present be laid aside, except in very particular cases 
that may require it, and that a shoe of more equal thick- 
ness at toe and heel, will be more generally adopted, except 
in cases of very low and weak heels, it maytbe made a little 
thicker at the heel than at the toe. At the Same time it may 
be necessary to explain here, that although the thin heel shoe, 
which Mr. James introduced some time ago, did not pro- 
duce all the advantages which were expected of it, but, on the 



1-W I 



contrary, that it was found decidedly detrimental to several 
horses; yet, on the other hand, I am quite satisfied that the 
evils which it produced have been much exaggerated, though 
certainly it did procrastinate the evils it was intended to re- 
move. The amount of the argument I apprehend to be this, 
that a principle, good in itself, was carried to an extreme, and 
thus the frog, under disease, having by this means more duty 
assigned to it than nature intended it to perforin, some evils fol- 
lowed as an inevitable consequence. And when this shoe was 
first introduced by professor Coleman out of the college, it 
failed from the same want of caution as it did with Mr. James; 
but those who are acquainted with the talents and discrimina- 
tion of the directors of the Veterinary College, know better than 
to believe them so bigoted to the thin heel'd system, as to ap- 
ply it in cases as Mr. James did, directly repugnant to reason 
and nature. No one (seeing its indiscriminate application had 
brought it into disrepute) can blame professor Coleman, who 
recommended it only where the foot has been put in a state 
for its reception; that is, with high heel'd hoofs. And on this, 
as well as in his lectures, and advice to his pupils, he always 
lays the greatest stress, and certainly with reason ; for if the 
foot is not properly prepared, any other shoe would fail, from 
the same cause. 

In this lies the difficulty, which is not to be surmounted, 
except by indefatigable attention to the practice. No one, I 
repeat, would suppose professor Coleman to have neglected 
in his own practice what he so forcibly recommends to others. 
The only shade of error that seems attributable to him, was 
want of reflection. He published his system long before pu- 
pils enough had been taught, and benefited by his personal in- 
struction, so much as to know when the depth of the heels 
would admit of its application, and when not. Now, had Mr. 
James been regularly bred at the college, (had that been the 
case), and had surgeons growing from under his hand, been 
spread about in the country, and the system always been ap- 
plied to proper feet, I am fully persuaded it would not 
have failed, neither would Mr. James have committed the 
same error here. 



But to bring it io bear on all kind of fact, or vice versa, to 
make all feet fit to receive it, is another matter. Now, had 
Mr. James lowered the heels of those horses' feet gradually, 
by' five or six shocings, instead of doing it (as I understand 
he did) all at once, lie would not only have effected his ob- 
ject admirably, but have relieved my shoulders of a very heavy 
burden of prejudice, and often very abusive language, from 
grooms and coachmen, which I am in a great measure obliged 
to bear until more time is allowed to convince them of the 
error. 

Had Mr. James been gifted with prophecy, his enemies 
would have had abundant reason to open upon him; but his 
inadvertency, as well as want of practical knowledge, is to 
be blamed. Had I been Mr. James's counsellor, I would 
have advised a very long period of trial before I had endea- 
voured to render the thin hecl'd system universal. That it 
is the only system possessed of powers to obtain universal- 
ity, I am confident, not only because no other is natural, but 
because it is a fact too well known, that this thin heel system, 
is the only one which has been in use among the Asiatics for 
ages past, and which I have myself been eyewitness to, dur- 
ing many years residence in that country. 

Nevertheless I am quite as certain, that the thin heel shoe 
requires so much attention and professional knowledge, that 
it will not be universally adopted for ages to come in this 
country. And that Mr. Colemaivs seated concave shoe, com- 
bined with his method of preparing the feet with a drawing 
knife, being less liable to immediate mischief, will, in the pre- 
sent state of veterinary science, be more generally adopted. 

To elucidate this subject still farther — where is there a gen- 
tleman in this city that has not two horses, whose hoofs, from 
various causes, are differently constructed, and require dif- 
ferent shoes, to one or the other of the above description. To 
produce, therefore, a level t^ad, and not distress the muscles 
and sinews by the application of a thin heel shoe, Mr. Coleman 
recommend* t toe to be cut, but not the heels. The simple dif- 
ference therefore between thick and thin heeVd shoes, properly 
applied, is this, in one you have iron at the heels equal to two, 



2 



o 



and horn equal to six— in the other you have iron equal to one 
only— and horn equal to seven— so that the depth of iron and 
horn united when the thin heel'd shoe is judiciously applied, is 
exactly the same, and no more exertion used by the muscles and 
sinews in the application of one than the other; but if the thin 
heel'd shoe is used before the horn is equal to seven, lameness 
will be likely to ensue. 

There are two things necessary to he attended to in shoe- 
ing, viz. to cut the hoof, and apply the shoe. Before the hoof 
is protected by iron, some part requires to be removed, and 
others preserved. This part of the practice of the shoeing art, 
scientifically, as I have before stated, and which cannot he 
repeated too often, is of infinitely greater importance tliau 
the form of the shoe; I shall therefore be as explicit upon it 
as possible, taking for my guide, where I am justified by my 
own experience, the method used by the ancients, and which is 
nothing worthy more than the college method of paring out the 
foot; and as the reader may observe of quoting Mr. Coleman's 
lectures when necessary. Before the art of farriery had assumed 
the form of a science, by the establishment of veterinary col- 
leges, even in England, smiths in general attended chiefly to 
the shoe, and not to its application, or the functions nature 
intended it to perform; which error has for many ages heen 
the source of so much mischief. For as Mr. Coleman in his 
introductory lecture very properly states, « a watch, or any 
other machine intended to regulate time, will perform its 
functions in proportion as it is well or ill made ; but a horse- 
shoe may be found mathematically correct and yet produce 
lameness." For it is a fact that the best shoe that can be 
made, will produce more mischief when applied to a hoof im- 
properly ait, thsm the worst shoe when well connected to a 
hoof prepared with judgment. And until my regular treatise 
on comparative shoeing will appear before the public, it will 
be enough now to prove the impracticability of using syste- 
matically any particular form of shoe, and the consequent 
fallacy of all inventions, that with the assumption and as- 
sistance of novelty, are held forth as lures to the public. 
Not so the paring out, and preparing the foot—for whatever 



24 

kind of shoe is used, the concavity of the sole, in imitation of 
the form given to the foot by the Almighty, must be preserved; 
or, where that concavity is wanting, it must be obtained as 
soon as possible. Paring out the foot, therefore, with the 
drawing knife, as in the manner directed by the different ve- 
terinary colleges, is now reducible to a system, in every coun- 
try except this, and though the operation of it must be varied 
discretionally, according to the different form of the soles, t 
is not, as far as I know, susceptible of improvement. 

I can without vanity say, that I have seen and witnessed 
more methods of shoeing in different parts of the world, and 
paid more attention to it, than perhaps any other man of my 
age in this, or any other country; and although I know I am 
fighting against very strong, though very unreasonable pre- 
judice, yet, should the system I am now about to establish in 
this city be fairly tried and encouraged, and compared fairly, 
on experience, with others, and not immediately laid aside, I 
am as confident of deceiving the expectations of the public 
in this as I did on a former occasion with another system, by 
which thousands in this city have been benefited. 

I AM NOW GOING TO ADDRESS MYSELF TO 
ALL FARRIERS, SMITHS, GROOMS, AND COACH- 
MEN, who are able and willing to understand, without 
stickling to maintain so many absurd notions of their own, 
whose office it is to shoe, or see shod this valuable animal, 
which is at present the subject of our inquiries. The com- 
fort of horses, as respect their stable management, but 
more particularly the management of their feet, depend 
greatly upon the care and activity of grooms, and coachmen, 
whose value when they possess, and are worthy of the confidence 
of their masters is hardly to be estimated, and upon whom the 
task often devolves of advising the smiths in the country, while 
travelling. I would draw their attention to the following par- 
ticular. 

Firstly, That to remove the crust and bars, with a but- 
teris in the fallacious hope of widening the heel thereby, is 
not only highly injurious, by increasing contraction, but ulti- 
mately produces permanent lameness. 



XJ 



Secondly, That to pare down the crust and hars, so as to 
bring them on a level with the horney sole, whatever maybe 
the form of the shoe set on, exposes the sole to pressure, un- 
der which, that part being filled with innumerable blood ves- 
sels, extravasation is formed, between the sensible and insen- 
sible sole, and thereby producing corns, and other diseases. 

Thirdly, When the heels are sufficiently high, as before 
stated, thin heeFd shoes are to be preferred ; but when the heels 
are low, and the pastern joints long, or the action high, seat- 
ed shoes with thick heels, as improved by Mr. Coleman, are 
to be preferred. x 

Fourthly, Whatever shoe is employed, it is absolutely ne- 
cessary for the soles to he made concave with a drawing knife, 
particularly between the bars and crust, in order to prevent 
pressure on the soles. 

Fifthly, That to a foot so prepared, almost any shoe may 
be applied, and a foot not so prepared, almost any shoe will 
cause lameness. ? 

Sixthly, That the frog is the elastic key-stone of the foot, 
possessing the power of maintaining its own figure when 
constantly brought into contact with pressure, a circumstance 
little known to smiths, or stable people, and that it is never 
ragged, when it has never been cut. 

Seventhly, Oil ought never to be applied to the feet of 
horses with the view of supplying horn. Your horses should 
in the day time stand without their litter, and the feet should 
be picked out and washed night and morning. By observing 
this, simple plan of treatment, you will hardly ever see a sand 
crack, and but seldom a running thrush. 

Lastly, Never cut the frog, nor never rasp the surface of 
the hoof above the clinches, except in obstinate cases of con- 
traction, you should be neoessiated to rasp the quarters to ex- 
pand the heels — this last operation however requires the judg- 
ment of a Veterinary Surgeon. 

By adopting these few rules here laid down, you will at 
least avoid the grosser errors which are every day committed; 
and if you have sufficient courage to study a little more the 



26 

necessity of acquiring the two principles of shoeing*, by ask- 
ing for advice and information from me instead of being bi- 
gotted to the opinions of your stable friends, Tom, Dick and 
Harry, who cannot possibly know any more about it than 
yourselves, public opinion will soon place you on a level with 
men who are enlightened, and therefore useful to society. I 
Will observe upon the whole, that the less substance you take 
away from the natural defence of the foot, but on particular 
occasions which may require it, the less artifical defence will 
be necessary; therefore the nearer you follow these few sim- 
ple rules, the nearer will you all approach to perfection in an 
art, re hick has for so many ages been involved in darkness. 



, 



ADVERTISEMENT 



TO THE 



Faculty, Gentlemen, Farmers, and Graziers, 
OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



THE branch of science which I have now the honour to pro- 
fess in this department of Natural Knowledge, being altogether 
new in this country, and the name by which it is called being 
but little known, it becomes indispensable, therefore/to commu- 
nicate, for the better information of the public, whatever may be 
learned on this head. 

Farriery is a name which it derived from the occupation of 
those who practised it — who were in general Smiths, or Workers 
in Iron, (Ferracius.) Veterinary is a word derived from the 
Latin— Veterinarius, a term appropriated to express either that 
part of medicine which regards the cure of animals, or the per-, 
sons who practice that cure. What the true Etymon of the word 
may be, is a question of some philological intricacy, though but 
of little importance. It is sufficient here to Say, that the word 
Veterinarius, as used by Columella and Vegetius, signifies a 
practitioner in one particular part of medicine, namely that 
which respects the cure of diseased cattlei and that art, Veteri. 
naria, signifies the art of healing applied to the healing of cattle. 

The word hippiatric, is a compound term, formed of the Greek 
word Hippos, a horse ; and cutrace, medicine, which treats of the 
cure of diseased horses, in particular, and constitutes a principal 
branch of that division of medicine which treats of the diseases 
incident to cattle in general and to all other domestic animals. 

We have undoubted evidence that the art was cultivated in 
very early times. In the infancy of medicine, when the art o 
healing was confined to the rude elements of Surgery, it was 
indiscriminately applied to the relief pf all accidental distresse s 
to which the animal frame was liable, whether they occurred in 
man, or in those animals which constituted his wealth, or wer e 



.28 

the associates of his labours. In these times, many things occur-' 
l"ed to attach the iriinds of men to the well being of their cattle. 
They were almost solely used for tillage, and the dairy; and 
the life and health of the herds was an especial concern. Cattle' 
was the great medium of exchange, before the invention of coin; 
and the riches of countries and individuals, were estimated by 
the quantily of cattle and the laws of religion, Which religiously 
forbade the sacrifice of any animal, but such as were in the most 
perfect state of health. 

Chiron the Thessalian, a person whom antiquity held in ex- 
treme veneration, and who, from his transcendent skill in horse- 
manship, and many other useful arts, was called the wise Cen- 
taur, lived at the age of the Trojan war. This great man descends 
to us as the father of medicine, and the instructor of iEscula- 
pius in that art. And he was, on the concurrent testimony of 
antiquity, profoundly skilled therein, as also in the cure and 
management of cattle. 

It would be to no purpose to trace this art minutely through 
all its vicissitudes; it is sufficient to say, that the decline of the 
Roman empire, and the decay of arts and sciences, occasioned 
for some time the destruction of this as well as every other 
branch of knowledge. But while Veterinary Medicine was lost 
in the West, and was declining fast in Greece, it found an asy- 
lum among the Arabians; a nation destined as it should seem 
by Providence, to receive in trust the knowledge of Europe, un- 
til emerged from the abject state into which it was plunged, it 
Was able to reassume its intellectual rank. It is worthy of remark, 
that the Asiatics appear to have preserved that part of the ma- 
nagement of horses which consists in their treatment when dis- 
eased, entirely separate from the business of the farrier; the 
confusion of which, essentially distinct occupations, has been 
hitherto the bane of veterinary science among us. — During a 
residence of 15 years among the different nations of the East, I 
have the satisfaction to say I learnt many useful lessons. 

The great Lord Bacon, sensible of the .services he had ren- 
dered to medicine by Zootomy with a view to comparative ana- 
tomy, makes the following observation — 

" The diligence of Zootomists, says he, may much contribute 
to illustrate the doctrine of Androtomy — and both inform phy- 
sicians of the true use of the parts of the human body, and help 
to decide divers anatomical controversies, — farther, it would be 



29 

lio new tiling for naturalists not professedly physicians to treat 
of this subject; the naturalist may afford good hints to the prac- 
titioners of physic, by trying upon brutes a variety of untried 
medicaments or remedies, and by suggesting to him both the 
events of such trials, and also what has been already observed 
about the cure of diseases incident to beasts. 

" The most skilful physicians might also, without disparage- 
ment to their profession, do it an useful piece of service, if they 
would be pleased to collect and digest all the experiments and 
practices of farriers, graziers, butchers, and the like; which the 
ancients did not despise, but honoured with the title of Hippi- 
atrica and Veterinaria; and among which, if I had leisure, di- 
vers things might be taken notice of, which might serve to illus- 
trate this subject. 

There are a few of the sentiments of ingenious men, selected 
of many; but the.* are sufficient to prove, that from the period 
at which veterinary medicine first attracted the notice of the 
learned, it grew more and more an object of their attention. 

T shall now follow the progress of this opinion no farther, but 
observe, that after a course of many years, the government of 
France undertook to give effectual assistance and protection to 
this most useful part of Domestic Science, and to provide for it 
the same advantages by which medicine had formerly advanced. 

It will not be out of place to give here some account of the 
means which the French government employed, in order to bring 
about the desirable end; and which so justly entitles France to 
the same honours with respect to the Veterinary Art, which the 
world must ever concede to the school of Salerno, with respect 
to medicine. • 

Sensible of the advantages which must result from such an 
institution, government granted a sum of 50,000 livres to defray 
the expenses — providing a laboratory, dispensary, physic, guard - 
ing-stables to serve as hospitals, forges, instruments, and uten- 
sils; also rooms for study and dissection; in a word, everything 
that might render the establishment complete. 

The first school was opened in January 1T62. It was very 
soon filled with native students, and in a short time their num- 
bers were increased by foreigners— supported by the empress 
queen, the kings of Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Prussia and 
Sardinia, and the different Swiss Cantons. And within these 



O'J 

few years past Spain, Portugal, Russia,'* and all British India, 
have followed the example. 

Dr. Rush, whose heart was ever w T arm for the introduction of 
any new branch of science, which might tend to promote the 
welfare of the animal creation, conversed much with me on ve- 
terinary subjects, and laboured hard to prevail -on me to estab- 
lish that pursuit in this city — but not having then obtained it 
scientifically, I proposed to Dr. Rush and other friends already 
mentioned my then intended pursuits at the college, — from 
whence I am now returned and commenced practice. 



COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. 

BEING A BRIEF OUTLINE, 
BY 

COMPARISON OF THE TWO SYSTEMS 

OF 

MAN AND HORSE. 

1st, When the Almighty created Man, he made a summary 
of the world's fabric, an abstract of divine nature : in him he 
ended his work: on him he stamped his seal, and sign of his 
power, and portrait of himself. In these are the three principles 
of divine essence ; in which essence these three principles are 
united. Theologists call them by the Trinity; the Naturalist, 
Matter, Spirit, and Motion; the Chymist, Salt, Sulphur, and 
Mercury, the Anatomist, Body, Blood and Spirit; the Botanist, 
Substance, Fragrance and Sap. But the philosopher comprehends 
them all, and searches out the Triune, this first great cause, 
from the Animal, Vegetable and Mineral Kingdoms; and with 
his intellectual faculties soars into eetherial regions, and exclaims 
with David: " I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Whither 

* The emperor of Russia has lately sent over twelve veterinary sur- 
geons and twenty-four shoeing smiths. 



31 

can I go from thy Spiritl'l Ps. cxxxix. 7. 14. In fine, Man is> 
a living and walking machine,xontaining within itself fheprin- 
ciple of its motion and preservation, not only for a few years, 
but sometimes for more than a century. Nothing, says an intel- 
ligent physiologist, is a stronger evidence of the dignity of man, 
and of his pre-eminence over the different species of brutes, 
than the erect position of his body, and the majesty imprinted 
upon his countenance. The same ignorant reasoners have at- 
tempted to assert, that the upright posture of man is not natu- 
ral to us; but the formation of the head and foot, as well as se- 
veral other parts of the human body, clearly prove, that those 
who thus argue are wrong. Other animals have their eyes placed 
on each side of the head, so that they can see the horizon: but 
man, were it not for his erect position, would faref .r worse with 
respect to sight, than any of the brute creation. His eyes would 
be turned directly towards the ground: and he would not be roIc 
to shun a thousand dangers which other animals avoid by flight, 
when their sight apprizes them of their approach. If, therefore, 
any thing evinces, that nature destined man to walk with his 
head erect, it is the very formation of his head. In his upright 
attitude, he takes in at one view the heavens and the earth: he 
can look upwards, and downwards, all around him: and so far 
from having occasion to envy the posture of the creatures around 
him, he may justly consider his own as a favour conferred on 
him by Nature. 

2d. The Horse* is a generous and serviceable creature; pos- 
sessing the courage of the lion, the fleetness of the deer, the 
strength of the ox, and the docility of the spaniel. By his aid 
men become more acquainted with each other : he not only bears 
us through foreign climes, but likewise labours in the cultiva- 
tion of our soil; draws our burdens and ourselves; carries us 
for our amusement and our exercise; and both in sports of the 
field and the turf, exerts himself with an emulation that evinces 
how eager and ambitious he is to please and gratify the desires 
of his master. He is both our slave and our guardian ; he gives 
profit to the poor, pleasure to the rich; in our health he forwards 
our concerns, and in our sickness lends a willing assistance for 
our recovery. „ 

This fine spirited animal participates with man in the toils of 
a campaign, and the glory of conquest, penetrating and undaunt- 

y 

/ 



■ 



32 

cd as bis master, and views dangers only to brave them. In ex- 
ercise of all kinds, his fire and his courage is irresistible, and 
amidst his boldest exertions, he is equally collected and tract- 
able; not obeying his own impetuosity, all his efforts and his ac- 
tions are guided solely by his rider; indeed such is the greatness 
of his obedience, that he appears to consult nothing but how he 
can please, and if possible anticipates what his master wishes. 
Every impression he receives, has a responsive and complete 
obedience; he darts forward, checks his ardour, and stops at 
command ; and the pleasures attendant on his own exertions, he 
renews, or rather enters them in the pleasures and satisfaction 
of man; nay, he serves him with all his strength — and in his 
strenuous endeavours to please, he often outdoes himself, and 
even dies in order the better to obey ! In a word, nature has be- 
stowed upon him a disposition, both of love and fear, to the hu- 
man race; she lias endowed Wtm also with that perception, which 
yields him the knowledge of every service we can. and ought in 
gratitude to render him. 

Such indeed are the acute and generous feelings of this noble 
nnimal, that he is ies3 affected with Ids bondage, than with the 
want of our protection; pleased in the constant labour of our 
lieal th, pleasure and profit, he feels no. distress but ivhat is caused 
by our own cruelty and ingratitude. All he demands from us, 
therefore, for a life of incessant labour, is a support and tender 
return ; the attainment of which, creates in him his chief plea- 
sure. If such, therefore, be the qualities of this noble creature, 
surely he who has devoted his life to the study of his infirmities, 
has some claim to the patronage and protection of his country. 

Having described the qualifications of this noble animal, I 
shall now proceed to give a brief detail of the difference of struc- 
ture between him and man. 

1st, In the formation of the brain, its structure is entirely 
different, being reversed ; the cerebellum of the horse holds the 
situation of the cerebrum in man. Its proportions are also very 
different; the size of the brain in the Horse, being only in the 
proportion of one-fourth of that in Man. The structure' of the 
lungs of the horse, are also very different ; the pulmonary veins 
being double in number to that in man. This of course allows 
an easier transmission of blood from the lungs of the Horse, and 
consequently occasions the animal to have its circulation less 
hurried there, where speed is so often required. The pulse of 



83 

the Horse is also different, being generally at a range*of from 
55 to 46, though from 40 to 4.5 is the general medium ; while in 
man, it is generally about 75, seldom under 60. In the Horse, 
the arteries seldom take any disease, which is generally so fre- 
quent and so fatal in man. With respect to the blood of the 
horse, it has less serum than in man — because the horse is less 
subject to dropsical complaints. 

But viith respect to the nervous system, its proportion be- 
tween the two animals is in favour of ourselves; the nerves be- 
ing of course more numerous, in order to answer all those finer 
feelings, as well as all those various sympathies so predominant 
in the human frame ; whilst the horse, by nature limited in his 
situation and pursuits, possesses a lesser proportion, therefore 
wants that aeuteness and sensibility, which is so peculiarly con- 
nected with that intelligence and understanding ordained him 
by the Almighty. When we come to the basis of the structure 
of both these animals, we find that at birth the bones of the horse 
are more complete than in man, and that the process of ossifica- 
tion has made a more rapid progress in the ivomb; the spine" of 
the horse, by its greater compactness and strength, being more 
fitted for support and strength, than in man. The vertebrae, or 
bones of the back, are also proportionably firmer and better 
united. 

From the basis of the body, we come next to the organs. The 
stomach of the horse being much less than in man, displays also 
less sensibility ; the cuticular part to which the bott is princi- 
pally attached being quite insensible, and does not retain so 
long as man the food that is received into it. This organ con- 
tains only three gallons of waterfj^When it is a well known fact, 
from experiments tried in 1814, during my residence at the col- 
lege, that a horse, from long deprivation, will drink 5 and 6 
times that quantity. 

t The changes also, which affect the assimilation, and complete 
the process of digestion, are chiefly made by intestines, differ- 
ent from man, and for this purpose a peculiar provision is made 
by nature, that 'the alimentary matter may not be hurried too 
quickly through the intestines ; for in the horse there is no gall 
bladder, consequently the bile has not that acrimony, or power- 
ful stimulus, or action, on the intestines, as in man. Neither is 
there that necessity for hurrying the alimentary matter from the 



34 / 

body of the horse, as in man, from its having less disposition, in 
consequence of the food of the animal, to putrescency — Man 
being carnivorous, the horse graminivorous. Connected with 
the same cause, is the formation of the liver, which is more sim- 
ple in the horse, being divided into seven small lobes — that of 
man only into two — the horse being an animal destined for 
speed ; man not. It is also secured by ligaments : one from the 
diaphragm; a second, or a portion of the same, from the breast- 
bone, by which means it can neither fall downwards, nor side- 
ways ;,and the umbilical vein, by which the foetus is nourished, 
becomes its suspensory, or third ligament; so that it can neither 
push forward in galloping, or going down hill, nor press too hard 
on the soft parts that lie under it. — It possesses however no less 
than from forty to fifty hepatic veins, while there are few in 
man. It is also more free from disease than that of man, or of 
any other animal, and the simplicity of its structure may, per- 
haps, be considered as the cause of this. 

The sense of vision* in the horse is particularly powerful. He 
sees better at night than most other animals, and sees stronger 
•on each side than straight forward. He has no lachrydal duct 
nor eyebrow ; man has both. As quadrupeds have -no hands 
to defend those organs, or remove extraneous bodies from 
the eye, nature has provided for them a seventh muscle, which 
is denied to man, and by which means the eye is drawn into the 
socket at the approach of danger. It is a firm cartilaginous mem- 
brane, situated in the inner canthus of the eye — in health hid 
by the eyelid, except a very small portion, which is black at the 
edge; but when labouring under inflammation, it projects very 
much forward, from the action*, of the retractor muscle drawing 
the eye backward to avoid the superfluous rays of light. Thus 
in tetanus or lock jaw, when all the other muscles are in a most 
violent state of contraction, this membrane, which the farriers 
call the haw, is drawn over the eye, by the action of the retrac- 
tor. TJiis membrane, which nature has provided for the wisest 
purposes, is often cut out by common farriers, which ignorant 
and barbarous practice cannot be too much reprobated. 

The caruncutee lachrymales also in the horse is black, while 
that in man is red. This has a kind of fold of the conjunctiva — 

f A treatise on the organs of vision of the horse, with plates, showing 
the diseases of the eyes, their causes, symptoms and best mode of treat 
ment, is now in the press. 



35 

though not entirely covered, as in man. Its principal use is to 
direct the superfluous moisture, secreted by the lachrymal duct, 
to the puncta lachrymalia, from whence it is carried into the 
former, and so passes into the nose by the ductus ad nasum ; 
which in the horse is very long and membranous, biit in man 
short and bony. The tapetum, or the inner covering of the cho- 
roid coat, is half black and half green, the better to absorb the 
superfluous rays of light, and also to assist and enable them to 
collect those rays corresponding to their food while grazing. In 
man those variegated expansions are wanting. . 

His hearing is equally powerful, and his ears* arc covered by 
strong muscles, which direct their position to the object present. 
This is not observable in man. In the circulation from the heart 
of the horse to the head, there is also a marked difference; the 
supply not being exclusively dependent on the carotid es, for 
their, arteries can be tied up in the horse without danger, where- 
as the tying up of one of these in man, frequently proves fatal. 
This operation has been performed in several instances with suc- 
cess, in staggers and other diseases, to which that animal is sub- 
ject. 

The heart also is formed in some with two, in others three, 
but in all the more perfect quadrupeds, with four cavities, form- 
ing a complete double circulation ; but the distribution of those 
vessels producing this, varies in different subjects. In man, the 
aorta gives off", soon after its origin, the right subclavian, left 
subclavian and left carotid arteries, the right carotid being 
furnished from the right subclavian, so that, properly speaking, 
there is no ascending aorta as in the human: besides there are 
only four pulmonary veins in man, in the horse there are double 
that number. In the sexual organs, the structure of the uterus 
or womb, is peculiar in having horns, and the testicles in the 
male show a secretory disposition in twelve months— now after 
the testes of the human subject have passed the abdominal ring, 
a complete union takes place between the vaginal or outer re- 
flection of the peritonium, by which means all communication 
with the scrotum and abdomen is shut out: this is a wise and 
kind provision to man ; for, from his erect position, was it not 
so, there would be a continual descent of some of the intestines. 
Man is also subject to hernia congenita* but animals not being 
subject to this, have not this opening closed; therefore in a horse, 
a communication between the scrotum and abdomen remains; 



3 6 

but from his prone situatjpn, neither congenial nor scrota 
nia are but rarely met with. In the disposition of the horse, there 
are many that never lie down, but sleep in an erect posture; 
and contrary to what is the case with most other animals, the 
horse does not lie down after eating. In five years the horse at- 
tains his full growth, which in man, on the contrary, requires a 
period of twenty -one years, showing less active powers of the 
system, and a more complicated machine to complete. 

But what will enable every one to form a proper judgment 
betwixt the constitution of the horse and that of man, is the dif- 
ferent effects of the same medicines in both. Thus arsenic has 
been given to a horse in the quantity of two drachms, while one- 
eighth of a grain is the proper dose, which is thought safe to be- 
gin with, in the human subject. Tartar emetic, a medicine equally 
active, has been given to the horse without any violent opera- t 
tion, to the extent of three ounces daily: in man a single grain 
is often too large a dose. Blue vitriol also has been given in the 
same manner, to four drachms a day; verdigris in the same ex- 
tent. Corrosive sublimate has been exhibited in an equal quan- 
tity; and with respect to different narcotics, as hemlock, henbane, 
nightshade, &c. &c. have also been given, under my own in- 
spection, when in charge of the hospital stables at the Royal 
Veterinary College, to a great extent to condemned horses, with- 
out producing any sensible effect. 

On this I might enlarge ; but T hope sufficient has been said 
to show what is due to the improvements in this department of 
Anatomy and Medicine, and to none am I more indebted than 
to my worthy instructors professor Coleman* and William Sew-, 
ell, Esq. assistant professor, for their correct anatomical views 
of various parts of the animal ; for their tracing the causes of 
many diseases as well as the difference in structure in both, to 
their source, on which=the most erroneous ideas have been en- 
tertained ; and for explaining their opinions by a proper analogy 
between the maladies of the animal and man ; thus rendering 
their explanation easier and better understood. 

J.CARVER. 

Regular lists of all the gentlemen who have studied at the 
College and passed the Examining Committee are published 
yearly. Those lists may be seen at any time by any gentleman 
desirous of seeing them, by application to the author. 



O; 



HISTORY OF THE 
London Royal Veterinary College, 

AT ST. PANCRAS. 

The Royal Veterinary .College, is an institution first estab- 
lished in the year 1792, at St. Pancras, near London. The pub- 
lic are indebted for this truly national foundation, to the dis- 
cernment and patriotic exertions of the Agricultural Society of 
Oldham, in Hampshire. The first professor was Mr. St. Bell, a 
Frenchman, who had previously signalized himself in this coun- 
try as a veterinary anatomist, by dissecting the famous horse 
Eclipse. The college is supported by an annual subscription. 
The annual contribution is two guineas, but the payment of 20 
guineas at once, constitutes a subscriber for life. In some recent 
instances, the institution has shared the bounty of parliament; 
an immense saving resulted to the nation from the appointment 
of veterinary surgeons to the different regiments of British ca- 
valry. 

The views and objects of the college appear in the following- 
statement printed by the authority of the governors. The grand 
object, they observe^ is the improvement of veterinary know- 
ledge, in order to remedy the ignorance and incompetency of 
Farriers, so long and universally complained of. For this end a 
range of stables, a forge, a theatre for dissections and lectures, 
with other buildings, have been erected ; a gentleman of superior 
abilities has been appointed professor, with other requisite offi- 
cers. The anatomical structure of quadrupeds, as horses, cattle? 
sheep, dogs, &c. the diseases to which they are subject, and the 
remedies proper to be applied, are to be investigated and regu- 
larly taught; by which means enlightened practitioners ofjifae- 
ral education, whose $vhole study has been devoted to the vete- 
rinary art in all its branches, may be gradually dispersed over 
the kingdom, on whose skill and experience confidence may se- 
curely be placed. 

Pupils to the college, in addition to the lectures and instruc- 
tions of the professors, and the practice of the stables, at pre- 
sent enjoy (from the liberality of some of the most eminent of 
the faculty) #ie advantages of free admission to their medical 
and anatomical lectures. These pupils, previous to leaving the 



8S 

college, are strictly examined by a medical committee, from 
whom they receive a proper cei'tificate; and upwards of 500 
have been examined and approved, left the college, and are at 
this time practising in the different regiments of cavalry, and 
various parts of the country, with great success. 

Subscribers have the privilege of sending their diseased ani- 
mals to the college, without farther expense than that of daily 
food, and these in general form a sufficient number of patients 
for the practice of the professor and pupils. On fixed days the 
professor prescribes for the animals belonging to the subscribers, 
who find it inconvenient to send them from home, provided the ' 
necessary medicines be furnished and compounded at the col- 
lege. Subscribers horses are there shod at the ordinary prices. 
His royal highness the commander in chief having been pleased 
to appoint a board of general officers, to take into consideration 
the objects of this institution, and they have reported the conti- 
nental loss to be very heavy, from the total ignorance of those 
who hitherto had the veterinary department in the army. This 
report his majesty approved, and henceforward to qualify for 
the military service, a veterinary surgeon must be provided with 
a regular diploma from the college. — A number of gentlemen, 
subscribers to the institution, attend once a fortnight to inspect 
the discipline of the stables, and see that the regulations are 
duly complied with. 

THE PATRONS OF 

THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE 

ARE AS FOLLOWS, VIZ. 

His Royal Highness PRINCE REGENT, President. 
His Grace the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, K. G. 

F. R. S. F. A. S. 

Vice-Presidents. 
LORD PERCY, 

GEORGE, Earl of Morton, F. R. S. F. A. S. 
GEORGE, Earl of Pembroke, 
PHILIP, Earl of Chesterfield, F. R. S. 
GEORGE, Earl of Macclesfield, 
His Royal Highness DUKE OF KENT, 
GEORGE, Earl of Warwick, 
Sir T. C. BUNBURY, Bart. M. P. 



ft 



9 



GEORGE HOME SUMNER, Esq. M. P. 
THOMAS PELL, Esq. F. A. S. 
GRANVILLE PENN, Esq. F. A. S. 
Note. — This last mentioned gentleman is of the Penn family 
of Pennsylvania, and is now living in England. He was the 
friend and patron of Mr. Charles Vial De St. Bell, the first pro- 
fessor of veterinary college; a great promoter of veterinary sci- 
ence, and the gentleman who laid the foundation stone of that 
institution. 

The following gentlemen originally constituted the commit- 
tee of examiners, for the purpose of granting diplomas to the 
pupils of the college, when sufficiently qualified to engage in 
practice. 

DR. JOHN HUNTER, MR. HOULSTON, 

G. FORDYCE, CLINE, 

BAILLIE, A. COOPER, 

BABBINGTON, HOME. 

MR. ABERNETHY, 

The present Examining Committee are, 
H. CLINE, F. R. S. President, 
Dr. BABBINGTON, F. R. S. 
Dr. BAILLIE, F. R. S. 
Sir EVERARD HOME, F. R. S. 
J. ABERNETHY, Esq. F. R. S. 
A. P. COOPER, Esq. F. R. S. 
Dr. COOK, 
Dr. PEARSON, 
Dr. WILSON, F. R. S. 
A. CLINE, Esq. 

EDWARD COLEMAN, Professor, 
WM. SEWELL, Esq. Assistant Professor, 
Treasurer and Secretary. 
Among the improvements of these latter times, the extension 
of a regularly cultivated system of veterinary practice, and the 
attempts to rescue the superior class of domestic animals from 
the torturing hand of presumptuous ignorance, are riot the least 
considerable, either in the view of humanity or life. 

It is true, that during the various ages which have passed since 
the days of Columella, the number of writers treating on vete- 
rinary science, according to the best medical light which the 



40 

times afforded, has been considerable ; but these works had ne- 
ver any very extensive circulation. Competent practitioners were 
wanting to put their precept in force ; and diseased animals were 
either totally neglected, or confided to the unmeaning and ca- 
pricious efforts of the illiterate vulgar. — Entirely to wipe away 
this opprobrium on humanity and common sense, must infinitely 
redound to the credit of the present times; and it is consoling 
to be able to announce, that attempts are daily making towards 
that beneficent end, by considerate and philanthropic characters 
in various parts of our own and neighbouring country. 

Ancient prescriptions and a false pride;, among the medical 
faculty, compose the twofold cause which has hitherto deprived 
our domestic animals of the benefits and comforts of regular as- 
sistance. Cattle have always been doctored in every country, 
either by their attendants or by men pretty nearly on a level 
with those in point of education, who, on the strength of having 
learned to perform the mo3t simple and common operation, and 
from the want of able proficients, have undertaken the arduous 
task of prescribing medicine. We need not wonder that in for- 
mer times such professors were held duly qualified, since men 
impartially committed their own persons to the hands of igno- 
rant barber surgeons, and since so many absurdities of equal 
magnitude subsisted, which like spectres and ghosts," have va- 
nished at the approach of modern light; but it may well be 
thought surprizing, that in this discerning age, when a liberal 
education is universally acknowledged to be absolutely necessary 
to the acquisition of medical science, that an illiterate farrier 
should be trusted in the cure of diseases. Precisely the same 
studies, physiological, anatomical, and medical, are requisite for 
the veterinarian as the human practitioner. The animal economy 
in its manifold relations, is generally fundamentally the same in 
men and beasts, and governed by the same laws; the same ma- 
teria medica is in a great degree applicable to both; but the great- 
est skill is requisite, to form a judgment of the symptoms of 
diseases in brutes, from their inability to describe their own feel- 
ings, and the consequent uncertainty of their pathology. 

Can there be a greater burlesque than the supposition of a 
man's ability to prescribe physic for a horse, merely because lie 
knows how to groom and shoe him ? or might we not also, with 
equal reason, employ our own shoemaker to take measure of our 
health ? The plea of experience is futile, from the utter inability 



41 

(prima facie) of illiterate and uninformed men to investigate 
the principles of science, and their total want of opportunity to 
acquire by rote a rational system of practice. The whole stock 
of medical knowledge of these practitioners $ usually consists in 
a certain number of receipts, derived from their masters or fa- 
thers, and which they continually rirfg the changes in all cases 
right or wrong; and so fiercely are they bigoted to their own pe- 
culiar nostrums, that they are totally incapable of all advice or 
improvement — the common and unavoidable fate of confirmed 
ignorance, since it is the highest point of knowledge, to know 
that we still need information. They sometimes cure by luck, 
seldom from knowledge, but often kill by regularly adapted pro- 
cess. — How often has the miserable patient's shoulder been 
pegg'd, and blown, and bored, by way of punishment, for the 
folly of getting himself strained in the back sinews of the leg, 
or coffin joint! How many pleuretic horses have been killed out- 
right by ardent spicy drenches, which probably might have cured 
the colic ! How many have been rendered incurably lame, from 
the patent shoe being affixed to the wrong foot! — Let not the 
reader suppose these to be mere flourishes, applied to the gene- 
rality of farriers withi^ my knowledge. I aver them, on the ex- 
perience of many years, to be literal truths; and by the tenor of 
them, he may judge of the majority of that faculty throughout 
Europe. Into such hands do we commit our distempered animals, 
which have it not in their power to reproach us with their accu- 
mulated sufferings; mankind from prejudice, indolence, or want 
of feeling, neglecting those creatures which they can purchase 
with their money. 

It has been supposed that veterinary writers have been want- 
ing. It was many years ago discovered in France, that the best 
remedy for this defect, and the only adequate method for the 
general diffusion of veterinary knowledge, and the rearing of a 
sufficient number of persons properly qualified in that line, would 
be to erect public seminaries expressly dedicated to the purpose. 

We of this country came (late indeed) iato the same salutary 
measures; and a veterinary college, as an hospital for cattle, has 
been established in London, and others in various parts of the 
kingdom. The propriety of these steps, and the benefits derived 
from them, must be obvious in the extension of veterinary know- 
ledge and the increase of practitioners. 

6 



Fublic iastitutionfs, provided they are nut unduly favourm 
with exclusive privileges, or armed with coercive and restrictive 
powers, are ever most efficacious and contributory to the ad- 
vancement of science. The scattered rays of knowledge are, by 
joint and public means, best collected into a common focus or 
centre, whence they are wi£h more ease and expedition diffused 
and circulated throughout the whole body of the commonwealth. 
The veterinary college* has also adopted a very judicious method 
of disseminating the true principles of shoeing, by erecting for- 
ges in different quarters of the metropolis, where all persons may 
at any time have their horses shod, at the common price charged 
to subscribers. — Prejudice, I know ; on more important occasions, 
has often been trumpeted forth as not only harmless, but beneficial 
among men? which indeed^svould be just, were there any general 
utility in the continuance of ancient abuses. It is the grand bu- 
siness of philosophy, to provide a counterblast for these interest- 
ed or ignorant trumpeters. " 

It has already been asked, for the advocates of our shoeing 
and sow-gelding doctors, how they came to suppose, that less 
medical knowledge would suffice to prescribe for the brute, than 
for the human animal, who can orally depict his own feelings, 
and verbally assist the physician in forming a correct judgment 
of his disease. They seem to act upon the strange supposition, 
that it is much easier for an illiterate man to penetrate at once, 
as it were by intuition, into the arcana of the sciences, than for 
a learned or well informed man to render himself skilful in the 
nature and management of horses. — Can a man be the worse 
farrier for having learned the necessity of making constant ob- 
servation of his own, instead of acting by rote, and being guided 
by a few arbitrary receipts, for knowing the nature of the medi- 
cines he prescribes, the anatomy and animal functions of the 
horse, and for making all such knowledge his study? 

In fine, all at this moment appears obscured or bewildered, by 
the ill-placed confidence of the owners of cattle upon the black- 
smith of the parish; upon illiterate and conceited grooms, stupid 
and listless shepherds; or upon a set of men infinitely more dan- 
gerous than all the rest, who, arrogating to themselves the style 
of doctors, ride about from town to town, and from village to 
village, distributing their nostrums, compounded of the refuse 
and vapid scraps of druggists' shops, to the destruction of thou- 
sands, whose varied disorders they treat alike, neither consult- 



43 

ixiz nature or art for the cause or the efifect. Miserable animal ! 
bereft of speech, thou canst not complain, when to the disease 
with which thou art afflicted, excruciating torments are super- 
added by the ignorant efforts of such men, who, at first sight, 
and without any investigation to lead them to the source of thy 
disorder, pronounce a hackneyed, common-placed opinion on 
thy case, and then proceed with all expedition, to open thy veins, 
lacerate thy flesh, cauterize thy sinews, and drench thy stomach 
with drugs, adverse in general to the cure they engage to per- 
form. 

Opposed to this barbarous and noxious practice, let us turn 
our eye to that of the veterinary physician and surgeon. 

We shall not find him occupying the attention of his auditors 
tvith the accounts of miraculous cures he never performed; — or, 
under the mask of sullen ignorance, endeavouring to attract con- 
fidence; we shall not see him armed at all points with phlemes, 
rowelling knives, and cauterizing irons, to rack and torment his 
suffering patients; or with drenches or balls, to obstruct the ef- 
forts of nature. — We shall see him with a cautious eye and ten- 
der hand, surveying and examining, with discretion and judg- 
ment, into the case before him; and as far as he can attain in- 
formation from those who bring the animal to him, we shall find 
him an anxious and patient inquirer; proceeding to explore all 
the external signs, and to observe with great minuteness every 
symptom which presents itself; and if he finds them so compli- 
cated that he cannot with certainty proceed to give an opinion, 
he will wait till some new, or more distinct appearances come 
to his assistance. If, however, these signs should not show them- 
selves, to give effect, he will then apply to the only resource left 
him, that of compelling nature to develope herself, or, at least, 
to show some indications. This he accomplishes through the 
means of medical aid, administered in proper quantities, which, 
by increasing more or less sensibly, the disease, produces som,e 
discovery of its tendency. 

Now that witches and ghosts of all kinds are flitting apace 
off the scenes, it is full time for men to lay aside the expecta- 
tion of all other uncaused effects. On these topics a celebrated 
veterinary writer dwells, with peculiar force of illustration, as 
he says " from a motive of justice, on account of the irrational 
prejudice of too many persons concerning the Veterinary Col- 
lege." 



44 

« "Enjoying a public institution. in the metropolis, 1 ' says he, 
" where veterinary science in all its branches is regularly taught 
and practised, it remains for those who interest themselves in 
the safety and well being of our domestic animals, to devise and 
recommend the most proper and expeditious methods, of a ge- 
neral diffusion of these benefits throughout the country. The 
farriers of London were advised, by persons of influence, to al- 
low their sons and apprentices to attend the college lectures 
which are given, and which indeed is practised by several of 
good repute. Those gentlemen of the medical profession attend- 
ing the London hospitals, whose destination is for country prac- 
tice, will surely perceive great probable advantage in the acqui- 
sition of veterinary knowledge, even if they have no present in- 
tention to profess that branch of medicine. Business, as is some- 
times the case, with young practitioners, may run short at the 
outset, and the leisure time might be both honourably and pro- 
fitably employed in veterinary practice. Such meritorious and 
humane occupation, could not possibly injure the medical cha- 
racter of a medical gentleman in these enlightened times; on 
the contrary, it would be more probable to procure him connec- 
tions of the most valuable sort — and might be his passport and 
introduction to the families of medical men." 

Thus far we have stated the opinions of a writer truly inge- 
nious, and most deservedly popular. Just, however, as are the 
encomiums of this useful institution at an early period of its ex- 
istence, yet we are bound more especially to acknowledge the 
extraordinary progress which this institution afterwards made 
(and is now making) under its present enlightened and truly 
ingenious professor Mr. Coleman. This gentleman, to a natural 
taste for these investigations, united a profound knowledge of 
his profession, as an anatomist and surgeon — a foundation on 
which the Veterinary Science could not but be erected with sin- 
gular advantage. That this has actually been the case, our read- 
ers must be aware that from the report of 1814, published in 
London, brought over by Mr. Carver, that not less than 600 
students have passed at this institution, who are now attached 
to the different regiments of British cavalry, and also practising 
in various parts of the united kingdoms; besides the different 
articles in which Mr. Coleman's name 4 and writings have neces- 
sarily been brought forward ; for which reason we close the pre- 
sent article without entering on those particulars, which it would 
otherwise have been our indispensable duty to have stated. 



45 

THE CHARACTER 

OF A 

VETERINARY SURGEON, 

In a limited sense, is one who practises the operative part of 
the Veterinary Art, and whose views do not extend to the treat- 
ment of constitutional maladies in brute animals. 

The veterinary practitioners in general are named Veterinary 
Surgeons — and this designation also attaches to those who en- 
gage in all the branches of the profession, as they are required 
in the different regiments of cavalry. We shall devote this arti- 
cle particularly to the consideration of those qualifications which 
every man engaged in it oifght to possess, in an equal degree 
with those whose conduct and operation are exercised on the 
human body. 

There is undoubtedly no profession in which greater natural 
qualifications are required than our own. The more liberal na- 
ture' has been in her gifts, the more carefully the first impres- 
sions have been cultivated by rational education— by so much 
the better will a man be fitted for the practice of it. Youth, firm- 
ness, dexterity, acute sensation, sound judgment and humanity, 
are the qualifications which may be considered as necessary for 
a surgeon, whether his patient be a man or a quadruped. 

1st, We will begin by observing — that in youth strong im- 
pressions are made on the mind, and that he who begins to study 
on the brute as well as the human subject, from 'the earliest pe- 
riod of life, will be most likely to acquire reputation. 

2d, Firmness is the second qualification of a Veterinary Sur- 
geon, and is indeed extended to the mind as well as the body. 
It implies resolution to go through his operations, however ha- 
zardous or severe, undisturbed by any accidental circumstances 
— unmoved or unawed by the presence of spectators. It also 
implies presence of mind to determine how to act under all cir- 
cumstances. 

Dexterity, in using his instruments, is also a necessary qua- 
lification in a A^eterinary Surgeon. It enables him to finish an 
operation with all convenient despatch, and with the least pain * 
to the patient, whether brute or human. 

Acute sensation is extremely necessary also for a Veterinary 



4*5 

Surgeon; for how often do instances occur in the acute diseases 
of the horse, where the nicest delicacy of the touch is necessary 
to distinguish the true state of the pulse. 

Sound judgment is, on many accounts, of the utmost impor- 
tance to the Veterinarian. It enables him to form judicious prog- 
nostics, by which he may calculate the chances for or against the 
event of any operation proposed. It is often not less useful in 
deciding for the patient's possible advantage, than in preserving 
his own reputation, and keeping up the credit of his art. 

It also teaches him to determine with precision the time ne- 
cessary for performing an operation, leads him to the choice of 
the best methods of executing it, or perhaps furnishes him with 
the more laudable and happy contrivance of recovery of his pa- 
tient by more gentle means. 

Humanity is the last qualification .mentioned as necessary for 
a Veterinary Surgeon; and though last, not the least important" 
and laudable. 

This indeed is the cardinal qualification of all; it reflects a 
lustre on the rest, and completes the true character of the man, 
as well as of the surgeon. The exercise of it is required in two 
ways; first, humanity in operation, and secondly, tenderness in 
our subsequent treatment. Humanity in operating, should induce 
us to put an end to our patient's sufferings, (whether brute or 
human,) as soon as we can, and also to perform this severe though 
necessary task after such a manner as shall be attended with the 
least possible degree of pain, besides the pleasing satisfaction 
resulting to ourselves, of having done our duty when actuated 
by such motives. 

Tenderness in our behaviour for the brute creation, needs not 
an argument to enforce its necessity — it being no less honour- 
able to feel for them than ourselves ; and surely the distresses 
of brute creatures, and the pain we are often obliged to inflict 
upon them, is sufficient to soften the hardest heart, and to raise 
the emotions of compassion within us towards those mute suf- 
ferers who have toiled in our fields, and lent the labouring hand 
to help build our cities and our churches. 

When dressings are either removed or applied, it should be 
done with a gentle hand, and in a manner which would convince 
the bystander that it is not the veterinary surgeon's intention to 
give pain, even to the most inferior animal, if he can avoid it; 
while a contrary conduct to this may ever prove an obstacle to 



47 

his success in life; for cruelty will increase by habit, and at 
length render his manners coarse and offensive, even to those 
on whose liberality the emoluments of his future practice may 
in a great measure depend. 

We shall now come to consider the acquired knowledge ne- 
cessary to make a good veterinary surgeon. On this point we 
shall make one general observation — to wit, that the more ex- 
tensive and universal a man's knowledge may be, from having 
made these his pursuits and acquirements in various quarters of 
the globe, (and which the writer has had every opportunity of 
obtaining from early life,) the better fitted will he be for the ex- 
ercise of his profession. N But, not to alarm young persons by 
considering the subject too extensively, or by a vain display of 
science, it is necessary here to mention that knowledge which 
is absolutely necessary they should acquire. If they are as con- 
versant as they ought to be, in the matter proposed to their in- 
dustry and application in this work, the knowledge they will 
then, have obtained cannot but raise a spirit of inquiry in their 
minds, which will lead to more important exertions. 

The next and most important acquisition is a knowledge of 
the power and properties of Medicines. The various substances 
of the materia medica — the different classes of the, vegetable, 
mineral and animal kingdoms, so far as they relate to physic, 
supply all the several applications used in Veterinary Surgery. 
If therefore we arc ignorant of the qualities of these substances, 
we may commit the greatest mistakes in the use of them. In- 
stead of an emollient we may applv an escharotic, and instead 
of a stimulating application, we may perhaps prescribe a sedat- 
ive. 

Without this knowledge it is impossible to practise our pro- 
fession with any degx'ee of credit or success; though by some it 
may possibly be argued that we should have learned these things 
equally from experience. Nothing therefore can be more neces- 
sary than a knowledge of the Materia Medica, and consequently 
of Veterinary Pharmacy — which is nothing more than a know-, 
ledge of the art of mixing and compounding the several articles 
of the Veterinary Materia Medica, so as to produce a combina- 
tion capable of effecting what cannot be done by any solid or 
fluid substance singly. '/:'■'. 

The last point to be insisted on, as demanding our particular 
attention, is the study of Anatomy. The body of the Horse, the 



$8 ' 

Cow, the Sheep, and the Dog, being the subject of our opera- 
tions, how shall .we be able to perform them properly, if we are 
ignorant of the construction of the machine on which we are to 
"work. 

A complete and thorough knowledge of Comparative Anatomy 
is therefore absolutely necessary to acquire; and the method to 
be pursued in order to acquire this knowledge, must be the work 
of our own hands, in the dissecting rooms of those institutions 
established for that purpose, in different parts of Europe. Mere 
oral instruction is not sufficient; we may attend the most inge- 
nious and instructive lectures in anatomy of the human subject, 
without being fitted for the exercise of our profession. It is there- 
fore necessary to dissect, to trace, and inspect, the several parts 
of animals with our own hands and eyes'; and this with care and 
industry. *■ 

Note. Dr. Carver having experienced much loss of time, as well as in- 
convenience, in getting the feet of several subscriber's horses in order, 
owing either to the contradictory orders of the owner, or through the 
chicanery or artifice of the grooms and coachmen, who being bigoted in 
their own absurd notions, are constantly directing and ordering different 
kinds of shoes, and the mode of applying them, in direct contradiction to 
all principle, begs to inform them, that until this branch of the Veterinary. 
Art is more generally studied, and better known and understood by gen- 
tlemen than it appears to be by many, that no such orders can be complied 
with. Dr. Carver at the same time informs them, that he will cheerfully 
listen, and pay every attention to the opinion and wishes of every gentle- 
man, to make any alteration that can, consistent with principle, be com- 
plied with ; and which can always be done, either by a note, or by coming 
themselves to the forge counting house ; but that no orders of a peremp- 
tory nature from servants can be attended to. 

He has seen and witnessed more systems of shoeing in all parts of' the 
world, than perhaps any other man of his age, in this, or any other coun- 
try—and to bring feet into a state of health, that has once suffered from 
disease, is not only a very difficult task, but requires different means, by 
which it is to be effected; and as those means are best known to the judg- 
ment and practical experience of a professional man, proper confidence 
must be placed in his abilities, in order to enable him to effect it. It is 
therefore hoped that gentlemen seeing their own interests concerned in 
this useful and laudable undertaking, will not be offended at this friendly 
notice. 

On the first establishment of the Veterinary College in England, many 
evils of this kind soon crept in, which had nearly proved fatal to the esta- 
blishment; but the humanity of the cause, by which thousands of useful 
animals, which had been, and was still likely to be saved, prompted seve- 
ral of the faculty, as well as hundreds of the first characters, to step for- 
ward in its defence and preservation ; and not only in this way has a great 
national benefit has resulted to the community, but to the brute creation 
at large. 

J. C. V. S. 



49 

Veterinary College, 12th July, 1815. 

These are to certify that Mr. J. Carver has attended the Veterinary Col- 
lege as a resident pupil for three years, and having been examined by us 
we consider him as qualified to practise the Veterinary Art 

HENRY CLINE, Surgeon, 

WILLIAM BABINGTON, M. D. 

ASHLEY COOPER, 



J. COOK, M. D. 
G. PEARSON, 



HENRY CLUI, j un . 
EDWARD COLEMAN, Prof. 
WILLIAM SEWELL, 

Assistant Prof, and Treas. 



Theatre of Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology and Surgery, October, 1815. 

By Mr. Wilson, Mr. Charles Bell, and Mr. Brody. 

This is to certify that Mr. J. Carver, veterinary pupil under me, has at- 
tended a course of lectures on the human subject, and chemistry under 
Sir H. Davy, jun. EDWARD COLEMAN, President 

WILLIAM' SEWELL, Assist. Prof. 

Royal Veterinary Medical Society, July 12, 1815. 
< We hereby certify that Mr. J. Carver is a member of the London Vete- 
rinary Medical Society, and that his observations have contributed to the 
advancement of veterinary knowledge. 

Signed by order of the Society. EDWARD COLEMAN, 

WILLIAM SEWELL, V. P. 
o. Duffield, Secretary. 

To Mr. J. Carver, V. S. 

The above veterinary diplomas have been examined and approved by 
the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Members of the Philadel- 
phia Agricultural Society. R. VAUX, Secretary. 

Understanding that several malicious and ungrounded reports having 
been in circulation, respecting Dr. Carver, Veterinary Surgeon, havinj 
killed a mare of mine, which he never attended, I deem it my duty as a 
fellow citizen and patron of Veterinary Science, to contradict any such 
evil report as may have a tendency to injure the professional talents of a 
man, whose services I not only estimate, but shall avail myself of, a$ oc- 
casion may require. JOHN TOMLINSON. 

Philada., 5th mo. 16th, 1817. 

Having attended at the request of the parties an investigation of the 
circumstances which led to the death of Mr. Chancellor's horses, we do 
certify, that nothing came to our knowledge which ought to affect any 
estimate which might previously have been entertained of the skill and 
abilities of Mr. Carver as a practitioner of Veterinary Medicine. 

N. CHAPMAN, Professor of Anatomy and M. M. 
THOS. T. HEWSON, Prof, of Comparative Anatomy. 

{£7° The Students of the University of Pemu 
sylvania are respectfully invited in the ensuing 
winter to attend a course of Lectures on the foot 
of the living Horse, and the various diseases at- 
tendant on Quadrupeds in general. 



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